Courtesy Photo:
Money from last year’s Made By Milk contest was used by Glade Hill Elementary to install a new fenced-in playground and bench for pre-K students.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

By STACEY HAIRSTON - Staff Writer

Glade Hill Elementary students, along with former pre-K teacher Brenda Strickland, turned 1,000 milk cartons into a new playground.

The school recently held a dedication ceremony for the new play area for younger students.

Glade Hill was one of three elementary schools in the nation to receive $1,500 in prize money for winning the "Made By Milk" contest.

Strickland, along with Glade Hill art students and volunteer Charles Converse, created a replica of a town made entirely of milk cartons -- over 1,000 of them.

The theme of the contest was "transportation," and Glade Hill's team of students called themselves "Milk Moo-vers."

"Students and teachers provided hours of work and fun helping to create the various transportation modes depicted in the diorama," said Strickland. "From canoes, wagons, boats and trains to airplanes, air balloons and jets, the diorama illustrates the different modes of transportation over time."

On Friday, Aug. 15, a new playground for pre-K students, as well as a new bench, was added to the school grounds. Improvements to the existing playground were also made.

"I was a pre-K teacher at Glade Hill for many years, and while watching my students at play, I observed the need for a playground that would be more suitable to the pre-K children's size and abilities," said Strickland, who recently retired from the Franklin County school division.

"It took some big hearts and a lot of hands to make this dream come true," she added.

Strickland also credits the school's PTO, staff, students and volunteers, Franklin County public schools and the entire Glade Hill community for supporting the project.

Other contributors included Haynes Design and Restoration, Gardner Construction, Gardner & Sons Sawmilling and the project's largest benefactor, Home Depot.

"Home Depot provided additional grant money and employee volunteers whose support was integral in making this a success," said Strickland. "Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making this dream a reality."

The "Made By Milk" contest encourages students all over the nation to build strong bones with milk and flex their creative muscles by repurposing milk cartons.